At 1 to 5 March 2021, the Quality Assurance Institute of UIN Sunan Kalijaga visited Andalas University, West Sumatra. The visit of the Head of the PGMI Masters Study Program to Andalas University was carried out together with 20 Study Programs at UIN Sunan Kalijaga. The visit was carried out as material for preparation for international accreditation, and also as material for reflection and self-evaluation of the readiness of the PGMI Master Study Program to face FIBBA accreditation.

Accreditation is still a major aspect in educational institutions, especially higher education, especially accreditation from abroad or internationally. All of this is not only important for the university, but also for the study program at the university. Times are getting more advanced, and globalization also requires universities to have the best accreditation in each of their study programs. Accreditation, especially International, will be able to show the quality of a study program at the University.

Quality education is a demand and obligation. Even more so in college. Therefore, efforts to improve the quality of education are non-negotiable. National Education must immediately build a reputation and education concept equivalent to the international world. International Accreditation is one of the strategic media to show the quality of outcomes in education. The Islamic elementery school Teacher Education Study Program ensures that the learning process and achievements are on the right track for their graduate students.

Preparation for achieving international accreditation is carried out by visiting the Faculty of Engineering, Andalas University, which has received international recognition from the International Accreditation Board (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) ABET in 3 Undergraduate Study Programs (S1) namely Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering and Environmental Engineering. ABET is an International Accreditation Board based in the United States for higher education programs in the natural sciences, computer science, engineering sciences and engineering technology. The issuance of this recognition of international accreditation indicates that the educational process that takes place in the 3 study programs has reached equivalence with similar study programs at well-known universities in the United States and around the world. The visit of representatives of the PGMI Masters Study Program lecturers who visited Andalas University together with LPM UIN Sunan Kalijaga and 20 Study Programs at UIN Sunan Kalijaga. This comparative study or benchmark wants to gain knowledge for preparation for international accreditation, and also as material for reflection and self-evaluation of the readiness of the PGMI Masters Study Program for FIBBA accreditation. How good is the condition of the Study Program.

The experience of the Faculty of Engineering in the process of obtaining International Accreditation provides experience on a process of how long it takes to improve an academic problem, especially in breaking down learning outcomes in the learning curriculum so as to produce the best solutions for students, lecturers, and users. The new process is carried out as efforts that so far have not been successful. Formation of an international accreditation team that was formed to investigate the process and its problems and define the target process, existing boundaries, so as to obtain input and output. The results were obtained from the remarks of Prof. Dr. Henny Lucida, Apt as the Head of LP3M Andalas University conveyed some information related to the international accreditation he carried out. The preparations carried out by each study program at the Faculty of Engineering are carried out for 5 years. At the beginning of the preparation, for 1.5 years of partner assistance (Technical assistant) from Arizona State University (ASU), to develop an OBE-based curriculum and self-evaluation. And in the 3 year process before registering study programs to ABET, Andalas University always consulted with UGM and UII as universities that first received International Accreditation and also as partners, strengthening in dealing with field assessments was also strengthened by comparative studies in Vietnam. In this benchmarking resulted in the strengthening of the PGMI Masters Program curriculum facing international accreditation to focus on Outcome-Based Education (OBE) Oriented Learning. OBE is a learning method that focuses on outcomes, namely learning outcomes. Identification and determination of learning outcomes is very important in the OBE method because it will determine learning methods and assessment planning so as to produce the best graduates as expected by the curriculum that forms it. In contrast to traditional learning methods where the main focus is the teaching and learning process.

Author: Ahmad Noviasnyah, S.Pd